Author to share her research at Cedar Mill Library reading festival

Local author Christine Fletcher will talk about fun historical facts she discovered while researching her young adult novel, "Ten Cents a Dance," when she closes out the Cedar Mill Community Library's Winter Reading and Arts Festival. She will appear at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at the library 12505 N.W. Cornell Road. All ages are welcome and registration is not required.

During her hourlong presentation, which includes time for questions, Fletcher will show video, play audio and display vintage photos. Her talk will focus on young adults of the time, and how World War II brought long-lasting changes in society. She will also be talking about taxi dancing -- a practice in which a man rented a girl for a dance and paid for her time the way riders rented taxicabs for travel.

"Taxi-dance halls were extremely popular in the 1920s, 30s and 40s," said Fletcher. She said that during her presentation she will "talk about what life was like in the times, and how dancing was extremely important in people's lives."

In other library news, Kevin Kelley, head of volunteer services, says so many patrons are using the library she is looking for additional volunteers to help in the following areas: An Inter-Library Loan assistant to inventory and process materials secured through the mail, cut and shred paper, and perform other clerical tasks. A Lap Time assistant to help librarians with story times by setting up, assisting the parents and children during the activity, and cleaning up. Computer instructors and assistants to help with open session computer time and basic computer use classes. A book processor to prepare new materials for the library shelves by stamping, covering and laminating. A page to shelve library materials. A desk assistant to help with checking materials back into the library. Cashiers to ring up sales in the Second Edition Resale Clothing Shop. Sorters, appraisers and pricers to prepare donations for sale in Second Edition.